• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mets look to end struggles at the plate, three-game slide

Sep 23, 2006 - 2:06 PM Washington (67-86) at NY Mets (92-61) 1:25 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Since clinching the National League East Division, the New York Mets have rested their regulars and struggled to score.

The Mets look to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season Saturday as they continue a four-game series with the Washington Nationals.

New York clinched its first division title since 1988 with Monday's win over Florida. The Mets rested their regulars and beat Florida on Tuesday. Although most of the regulars have returned to the lineup, New York has managed just seven runs in its last three games, all losses.

Carlos Beltran has not played since Monday's clincher due to a right quadriceps injury. Endy Chavez started for Beltran and had three of New York's nine hits in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Nationals.

However, the star of the series opener was Alfonso Soriano, who doubled leading off the fifth to become the first player to collect 40 homers, 40 steals and 40 doubles in a season.

The Mets' only four-game losing streak was from June 27-30 and the club will turn to John Maine (5-5, 3.42 ERA) to avoid matching it.

Maine's first start of the season came against Washington on May 1 when he allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Maine lost his first three decisions and then won his next four. But he has dropped his last two starts, surrendering six runs and 12 hits in 11 innings.

Maine was opposed by Mike O'Connor in his season debut and that will happen again Saturday.

O'Connor has dropped his last four decisions. But in his last start, the rookie lefthander pitched four solid innings as manager Frank Robinson limited him to 75 pitches in Sunday's 6-1 win over Milwaukee.